Instrument Co-ordinator

The Methodist Church in Britain; Grimsby; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital is seeking an Instrument Coordinator to manage surgical instruments between operating theatres and sterile services. You will handle requests, loan instruments and ensure timely reprocessing, logging all tasks in the track-and-trace system.

The role requires experience with manual handling, PPE, COSHH and risk assessments, along with strong communication and leadership to guide theatre staff and protect patient safety.

Qualifications

• Experience implementing manual handling regulations, PPE and COSHH.
• Ability to operate track and trace databases.
• Knowledge of surgical instruments and clinical demands.
• Excellent technical and communication skills.
• Ability to lead staff and manage workload.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate surgical instruments to and from sterile services, recording issues.
• Ensure medical equipment is available for theatre lists with Medical Engineering.
• Act as main contact between theatre staff, management and sterile services for requests.
• Monitor instrument deliveries and manage new/loan instruments per policy.
• Provide next‑day instrument lists to enable efficient reprocessing.
• Undertake decontamination duties and log tasks on the database.
• Coordinate instruments against theatre schedules and surgeons' cards.

Skills

Instruments knowledge

Communication skills

Leadership

Safety compliance

Instrument planning

PC Windows skills

Tools

Track and trace system

Job description

This role sits in theatres at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, coordinating surgical instruments and equipment between operating theatres and sterile services. The post-holder handles instrument requests, Steris deliveries and loan instruments, prepares next-day lists and works to reduce fast‑tracked reprocessing. Decontamination work sets the post apart: reusable medical devices are reprocessed and logged on a track and trace database. Experience of manual handling, PPE, COSHH and risk assessments is essential.

What the job involves

• Coordinate surgical instruments to and from sterile services, recording issues and resolving them where required
• Ensure medical equipment, including TOE machines and probes, pumps and pacing boxes, is available for the start of theatre lists, working with Medical Engineering
• Act as the main point of contact between theatre staff, theatre management and sterile services for instrument requests
• Monitor instrument deliveries and manage new and loan instruments in line with national guidance and Trust policy
• Provide next‑day instrument requirement lists to sterile services to enable efficient reprocessing and reduce fast tracking
• Undertake decontamination duties, including receipt, disassembly, cleaning, disinfection, reassembly, packing, sterilisation or high‑level disinfection of reusable medical devices
• Record all decontamination tasks on the track and trace database
• Coordinate instruments against theatre schedules and surgeons' preference cards for efficient operating lists

What's required

Experience

• Experience implementing manual handling regulations, PPE and COSHH, and completing risk assessments

Skills & knowledge

• Knowledge of surgical instruments and clinical demands
• Excellent technical and communication skills
• Ability to inspire, motivate and lead staff
• Ability to explain quality and safety requirements for handling and storing instruments clearly and precisely
• Ability to plan and set objectives to maximise instrument utilisation
• Word, PC and Windows‑based software skills

Other

• Ability to prioritise workload and keep the work area organised
• Understanding of data quality, data protection and confidential use of patient information
• Working within a quality‑driven governance framework to national objectives and Department of Health requirements
• Leading by example on safety for self, staff, visitors and patients
• Flexibility and working on own initiative with a positive attitude

Nice to have

• Understanding of medical device regulation, MDA/MHRA and Department of Health CJD requirements
• Experience of internal quality audits and reporting to management on instrument asset management
• Experience ordering surgical instruments from suppliers and using instrument tracking and traceability systems
• Detailed knowledge of the actions and limits of sterile services reprocessing
• Responsiveness to change and to new technology or ways of working
• Creative thinking to respond to changing clinical need

What's offered

• Encouragement of flexible working in a variety of forms